Safety container for toxic materials



Mayv25, 1965 PETERS, JR

SAFETY CONTAINER FOR TOXIC MATERIALS Filed June "7, 1963 m W R. m N Wm mJ Q Y u A a 0 3 J n F ATTORNEY United States Patent SAFETY CONTAINER FORTOXIC MATERIALS John Peters, Jr., 20231 Mobile St., Canoga Park, Calif.Filed June 7, 1963, Ser. No. 286,233 Claims. (Cl. 312-209) The presentinvention relates generally to the field of household accessories, andmore particularly to a safety container for toxic materials to safelymaintain them out of reach of children.

Due to their inate curiosity, each year an untold number of childrenobtain access to toxic materials, and in tasting or consuming the same,are either killed, or at the least made seriously ill. While the dangerof such materials is well known, in the average home no safe storagespace for toxic medicines is normally provided. Key lock cabinets fortoxic materials provide only slight protection, for by observation achild will invariably learn where the key to the cabinet is kept, andmay thereafter obtain access to the cabinet and its contents.

A major object of the invention is to provide a safety container fortoxic materials, which while portable, may by a simple manual operationbe removably locked in a fixed position in a medicine cabinet or betweentwo spaced vertical surfaces, and only moved therefrom by an adult whomust first manipulate the combination lock to. open the container andthen perform a second manual operation tofree the contain from itssupported position that is normally beyond the capabilities of a smallchild.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety container of arelatively simple mechanical structure which can be fabricated fromstandard commercially available materials, is attractive in appearance,and particularly adapted for being mounted at a desired position in amedicine cabinet.

Yet another object of the invention is to supply a safety container fortoxic materials that may be used for this purpose during the time thechildren in a family are growing up, and thereafter may be converted bya slight manual adjustment into a strong box to protect valuable papers,and the like.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof, andfrom the accompanying drawing illustrating that form which: 7 V FIGURE 1is a perspective view of the safety container installed in aconventional medicine cabinet;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the safety container with the door inan open position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the .container';

. FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the door; i

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the actuatingmembers;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the doorshowing the manner in which. the lock is mounted thereon; and

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the container with the guide portionremoved therefrom.

With continued reference to the drawing for the general arrangement ofthe invention, it will be seen in FIGURES 2 and 4 that the safetycontainer A includes a rectangular housing B, the forward portion ofwhich is opened and closed by a door C that is pivotally supported froma forward side portion of the housing B by hinges D. The door C supportsa combination lock E to hold the door in a closed position relative tothe housing B to prevent children from gaining access to the interior ofThe safety container A, as may best be seen in FIG URE 2, includes twooppositely movable supporting members F. When the members F are movedfrom first non-supporting positions to second supporting positions, theymaintain the container B at a fixed position inside a conventionalmedicine cabinet G, or other structure (not shown) that defines twohorizontally spaced, vertical members.

The housing B is preferably formed from a metal sheet such as steel,which by a bending operation, is shaped to define a rectangular back 10,a rectangular bottom 12, and a top 14, together with end walls 16 and18. The vertical end portions of back 10 are bent forwardly to definetwo flanges 10a that are disposed in a direction normal thereto. The endportions of bottom 12 also are bent upwardly to provide two flanges 12awhich are in vertical alignment with flanges 10a. In addition the endportions of top 14 are bent downwardly to provide flanges 14a that arevertically aligned with flanges 10a and 12a, as best seen in FIGURE 2.The forward edge portion of the top 14 is bent upward to form alongitudinally extending rib 1412 that is disposed in a direction normalto the top 14. A slot 20 is formed in the center of rib 14b, the purposeof which will later be explained.

The top, bottom and rear exterior'edge portions of end wall 16 are inabutting contact with the interior surfaces of the flanges 10a, 12a and14a, and rigidly aflixed to the flanges by tack welding or the like. Theforward edge portion of the end wall 16, as may best be seen in FIGURE2, is recessed slightly, and this recessed portion is doubled over uponitself to provide a vertically extending jamb 22. Like end piece 16, theexterior top, bottom and rear edge surfaces of end piece 18 are inabutting contact with the interior surfaces of a second set of flanges10a, 12a, and 14a, and rigidly affixed thereto by tack welding or thelike.

The forward portion of end piece 18 is formed into a series ofvertically spaced cylindrical hinge members 21 that are adapted to havea vertically positioned pin 24 extend downwardly therethrough. The pin24, together with members 21, form a part of the hinge D. The forwardlongitudinally extending edge portion of the bottom 12 is foldedrearwardly upon itself to define a reinforced edge portion 12b that hasa smooth forward edge to avoid the hazard of personal injury uponcontact therewit 7 Pairs of transversely spaced aligned slits 23 areformed in bottom 12, and portions of the bottom on opposite sides ofthese slits are deformed upwardly to form dimples 24, as best seen inFIGURE 2. Slits 26 are also formed in the top 14 that are in verticalalignment with the slits 23. Portions of top 14 on opposite sides of theslits 26 are deformed downwardly to define dimples 28 therein.

A vertically extending rectangular partition 30, preferably of apolymerized resin sheet material, is disposed within thehousing B and isremovably held at a fixed position therein due to engagement of oppositesides by the dimples 24 and 28 (FIGURE 2). The end wall 13 has severalpairs of horizontal, vertically spaced slits 32 formed therein, andthose portions of the end wall 18 adjacent the slits 32 are deformed todefine dimples 34 therein. A horizontal shelf 36 is provided, the inneredge portion of which is supported in a rearwardly extending the housingin which toxic materials .(not shown) are stored.

slot 38 formed in the partition 39, with the outer transverse edge ofthe shelf being supported by thedimples 34.

A longitudinally extending guide H is also provided which has a forwardflange 40, a rear flange 42, and a horizontally disposed web 44-extending therebetween. The forward face of the flange 4ft abuts againstthe rear face of the rib 14b, and is tack welded or otherwise rigidlyconnected thereto. In addition, the lower forward face of the flange 42is tack welded or otherwise alfixed to the upper rear exterior surfaceof the back 10.

The web 44 is disposed a substantial distance above the upper surface ofthe top 14 for reasons to be later explained, and cooperates therewithto define a longitudinally extending space 46. An opening is formed inflange and is centrally positioned relative to the slot 20 and rib 14b.A long screw 48 having a head 50 and threaded shank 52 is extendedthrough the opening in flange 40 to occupy a transverse positionrelative to housing B, as may best be seen in FIGURE 2.

A trapezoidal actuating member I rests on the upper surface of top 14.The actuating member I has two forwardly and inwardly tapering sideedges 54, a rear edge 56, and a forward edge 53. In width, the member Iis substantially less than that of the top 14. A tapped bore extendstransversely through member I which is threadedly engaged by the shank52 of screw 48. If desired, a central rear recess 62 may be formed inthe actuating member I to avoid extending the tapped bore 60 through theentire width of the actuating member.

The supporting members F are identical in shape and construction, andeach is of such width as to fit snugly but slidably in the space 46.Each supporting member F includes a forward, longitudinally extendingrib 64, a rear longitudinally extending rib 66 that is parallel to rib64, and with the upper edges of the two ribs being connected by a web68. The central longitudinally extending portion of the web 68 ispreferably formed to define a sunken channel section 70.

Each of the supporting members F has an outer edge 72 that is disposedin a direction normal to the ribs 64 and 66. Also, each of thesupporting members F has an inner edge 74 which extends rearwardly andoutwardly at the same angle as one of the edges 54 of the actuatingmember J.

The two supporting members F rest on the upper surface of the top 14,and are situated on opposite sides of the actuating member J within theconfines of the longitudinally extending space 46. A tensioned helicalspring 76 is connected to rearwardly disposed, adjacent portions of thesupporting members F, as may best be seen in FIGURE 4, with the springat all times tending to maintain the inner edges '74 of the supportingmembers in contact with the side edges 54 of the actuating member J.

When the head 50 is rotated, the threaded shank 52 rotates in the tappedbore 60, and the actuating member I is moved transversely relative tothe top 14. Thus, by rotating the head 50, the actuating member J may bemoved forwardly, and as it so moves, the supporting members F areconcurrently forced outwardly in opposite directions due to slidingcontact with edges 54. The length of the actuating member I and thesupporting members F are such that upon rotation of the head 50 to movethe actuating member I rearwardly, the outer edges 72 of the supportingmembers may be disposed substantially flush with the end walls 16 and18.

Two U-shaped resilient clips 78 frictionally engage the lower endportions of the channel section 70, as may be seen in FIGURE 4. Eachclip 78 has a rigid rectangular member 80 afiixed thereto by rivets orother conventional fastening means, and each member 80 has a projectingportion 82, the function of which will later be explained.

The door C, as can best be seen in FIGURE 2, is preferably formed from asingle sheet of rigid material such as steel that defines a rectangularpanel 84, the top, bottom and outer edges of which are bent or otherwiseformed to define rearwardly extending lips 86, 88 and 90 respectively.The door C has a straight, vertically extending edge 92 that isoppositely disposed from lip 90.

The inner surface of panel 84 adjacent the edge 92 has a verticallyextending strip 94 afiixed thereto, which strip is provided withprojecting, vertically spaced, cylindrical hinge members 96 that are ofsuch length as to be disposable in spaces 98 between the hinge members21. The members 96 and 21 are engaged by the pin 24 to cooperativelydefine the hinge D. Panel 84 (FIGURE 2) has a rectangular opening 98formed therein that is adjacent to the lip 99.

The combination lock E includes a case 100 having a horizontally movablelatch 102 therein that is springloaded by means not shown, and at alltimes tends to remain in a projecting position. The lock E also includesa numbered cylindrical handle 104, which when manipulated to apre-determined position, permits the latch 102 to be disposed in aretracted position relative to the case 100.

By means of an assembly 106 associated therewith the handle 104 isrotatably supported on the forward face of a rigid plate 108 havingwalls 110 which extend forwardly from the edges thereof. The forwardportions of walls 110 develop into outwardly extending flanges 112.Flanges 112 are of such length and width that the forward faces thereofmay be placed in abutting contact with the rear surface portions ofpanel 84 surrounding the opening 98, and when these flanges are bondedto the panel by tack welding or the like, the lock E is supported in afixed position on the door C. The inner surface of side wall 16 rigidlysupports an L-shaped strike 114 which the latch 102 engages when thedoor C is in a closed position.

If the medicine cabinet G is of modern design it will comprise arectangular tank 116 that is set in a wall structure between studs (notshown), and the tank includes a back 118 and two forwardly extendingside walls 120. The forward edge of one of the side walls is providedwith hinges 122 that pivotally support a door 124 in the conventionalmanner. Pairs of horizontally aligned, vertically spaced slits 125 areformed in side walls 120, and the portions adjacent each of these slitsare deformed inwardly to provide dimples 126 on which shelves 128 aresupported, as best seen in FIGURE 1.

When it is desired to use the safety container, the location thereof inthe cabinet G is determined, and shelves 128 in this portion of thecabinet are removed therefrom. The head 50 is then rotated to permit thesupporting members F to assume a retracted position, and the housing Bis then disposed in the cabinet G with the members 80 being inhorizontal alignment with the slits 125'. The head 50 is thereafterrotated in a clockwise direction to move the actuating member Iforwardly, and force the supporting members F outwardly away from oneanother until further movement is prevented when the edges 72 of thesupporting members engage the interior surfaces of the side walls 120.When the edges 72 of the supporting members P so engage the side walls120, the projecting portions 82 of members 80 will be disposed in theslits 125 that separate the dimples 126 in side walls 120.

The door C is then swung to a closed position, with the latch 102engaging the strike 11-4 and being held in locking engagement therewith.When it is desired to disengage the latch 102 from strike 114, thehandle 104 is manipulated in the manner of conventional combinationlocks and the door C swung to an open position.

It will be particularly noted that after the housing 13 has beenpositioned in the medicine cabinet G in the manner described, it canonly be removed therefrom by manipulation of the head 50 with the aid ofa screw driver or other bladed instrument (not shown), whichmanipulation is possible only after the door C has been placed in theopen position. For a child to gain access to the housing B he would haveto have sufficient manual dexterity to manipulate the handle 104 throughthe sequence of numerical stops required in opening a combination lock.Normally a child does not have such dexterity when he is at an age whenit is necessary to protect him against toxic materials.

The possible removal of the housing B from the cabinet G by a child issubstantially eliminated, for first the child would have to manipulatethe lock E to place the door C in an open position, and then realize andhave sulficient manual dexterity to be able to rotate the head 50 to aposition where the edges 70 of the supporting members F no longer are inabutting contact with the inner surfaces of the side walls 29 and themembers 82 are withdrawn from the slits associated with the dimples 126.

The use of the invention has been in detail and need not be repeated.

Although the present invention is fully capable of achieving theobject'sfand providing the, advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is tobe understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferredembodiment thereof and I do not mean to be limited to the details ofconstruction herein shown and described, other than as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety container for toxic materials which is positionable at afixed location in a medicine cabinet that has two parallel side members,said container including:

(a) a rectangular housing fabricated from a rigid sheet material toprovide a back, top, and bottom, and two side walls, with said sidewalls being so spaced that the distance between the exterior surfacesthereof is slightly less than the transverse spacing between i saidmembers, and the width of said top, bottom and side walls being lessthan the width of said side previously explained members to permit saidhousing to be completely dis-,

(0?) lock means for removably locking said door in said first position;

(e) two transversely spaced elongate housing supporting members havingparallel side edges;

(f) first means for movably supporting said housing supporting memberson said housing for longitudinal movement relative thereto, which firstmeans is an inverted channel-shaped guide that includes a web which isparallel to said top, disposed a distance above said top slightly higherthan the thickness of said housing supporting members, and two flanges,

that extend downwardly from the longitudinal edges of said web andaffixed to the upper rear portion of said back and the forward portionof said top, which top and guide cooperatively define a longitudinallyextending confined space in which said housing supporting members areslidably mounted; and i (g) second means for manually moving saidsupporting members away from one another to dispose the outer endsthereof in frictional contact with said side members to the extent thatsaid housing is held at a desired fixed position in said cabinet, withsaid sec-, ond means being so located on said housing that said secondmeans can be manually operated only when I said door has been movedto asecond position to permit access to the interior of said housing. 2. Asafety container as defined in claim 1 which further includes lips thatextend rearwardly from the top and bottom edges of'said door as well asthe free side edge thereof, with said lips when said door is in saidfirst:

locked position enveloping forward edge portions of said housing toprevent insertion of an instrument between said housing and door whensaid door is in said first 'locked position by a child in an effort topry said door to a position where access may be gained to the interiorof said housing.

3. A safety container as defined in claim 1 wherein an opening is formedin said door adjacent the free side edge thereof and said lock meanscomprises a combination lock that includes a case, a spring-loaded latchwhich at all times tends to remain in a projecting position relative tosaid case, and a handle that can be manipulated to placesaid latch in aretracted position in said case, which container further includes:

(a) a plate that supports said case on the rear face thereof, with saidhandle projecting forwardly through an opening in said plate;

(b) a continuous wall that extends forwardly from the edges of saidplate;

(0) a flange that extends outwardly from said wall, with said flangehaving a flat forward face that abuts against the rear surface of saiddoor adjacent said opening; and

(d) a strike so mounted in a position on the interior 7 surface of oneof said end walls as to be engageable by said latch when said door is insaid first position.

4. A safety container as defined in claim 1 wherein said housingsupporting members have adjacently disposed inner edges that extendforwardly and inwardly towards one another, said second means including:

(a) a trapezoidal block of less width than that of said top which ismovably disposed in said confined space and rests on the upper surfaceof said top, which block has a tapped transverse bore formed therein andhas end edges that extend forwardly and inwardly at the same angle assaid adjacent inner edges of said housing supporting members, with saidblock being disposed between said housing supporting members;

'(b) spring means for at all times maintaining said I housing supportingmembers in pressure contact with said block;

(0) a screw including a head and a threaded shank that engages saidtapped bore; and

(d) means for maintaining said screw in a fixed transverse positionrelative to said top, with said screw when rotated in a first directiontransversely moving said block in a direction to move said housingsupporting members away from one another, and said screw when rotated ina second direction, moving said block transversely in a direction topermit said spring means to move said housing supporting members towardone another.

5. A safety container as defined in claim 4 wherein said spring meanscomprises a helical spring that is tensioned, the ends of which areconnected to adjacent portions of said housing supporting members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 2,921,576 1/60Nolan 312-242 X 3,008,785 11/ 61 Gehrs 312 209 3,057,343 10/62 Nelson312-242 V FOREIGN PATENTS 3 29,255 '5 3 0 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

1. A SAFETY CONTAINER FOR TOXIC MATERIALS WHICH IS POSITIONABLE AT AFIXED LOCATION IN A MEDICINE CABINET THAT HAS TWO PARALLEL SIDE MEMBERS,SAID CONTAINER INCLUDING: (A) A RECTANGULAR HOUSING FABRICATED FROM ARIGID SHEET MATERIAL TO PROVIDE A BACK, TOP, AND BOTTOM, AND TWO SIDEWALLS, WITH SAID SIDE WALLS BEING SO SPACED THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEENTHE EXTERIOR SURFACES THEREOF IS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE TRANSVERSESPACING BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS, AND THE WIDTH OF SAID TOP, BOTTOM AND SIDEWALLS BEING LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS TO PERMIT SAIDHOUSING TO BE COMPLETELY DISPOSED INSIDE SAID CABINET; (B) A DOOR OFSUCH SIZE AS TO COVER AN OPENING IN SAID HOUSING DEFINED BY THE FORWARDEDGES OF SAID TOP, BOTTOM, AND SIDE WALLS; (C) HINGE MEANS MOVABLYSUPPORTING SAID DOOR FROM SAID HOUSING FOR CLOSING SAID OPENING WHENSAID DOOR IS IN A FIRST POSITION PARALLEL TO SAID FORWARD EDGES OF SAIDTOP, BOTTOM AND SIDE WALLS; (D) LOCK MEANS FOR REMOVABLY LOCKING SAIDDOOR IN SAID FIRST POSITION; (E) TWO TRANSVERSELY SPACED ELONGATEHOUSING SUPPORTING MEMBERS HAVING PARALLEL SIDE EDGES;